Chapter 39

039.

Serasie Hiart had won against Toren Hiart in the internal duel.

The astonishing news spread across the Northern region in the blink of an eye—a feat almost worthy of being called shocking. In the North, where there wasn’t much else to entertain, it wasn’t surprising that news traveled fast.

Still, there was another reason why this was happening.

Rumors tend to inflate and exaggerate as they spread.

People naturally prefer more sensational stories, so it was only inevitable.

Every person who learned of Serasie Hiart’s victory must have first thought the same thing:

That this matter had been exaggerated and embellished.

That perhaps a small instance had been exaggerated into something grandiose—a mere lucky win transformed into a ridiculous rumor that the eldest daughter had overthrown the eldest son.

Soon after, however, everyone would come to realize…

that the shocking news was, in fact, true.

The girl no longer walked ahead of her guards.

She stood side by side with Kalen, tightly gripping his large hand even though it dwarfed hers.

As they wandered through the massive mansion, which resembled a fortress more than a home, the discomfort only grew stronger. It never truly felt like home, and now it felt even less welcoming.

The only thing that brought a sense of ease to her was the warmth she felt from the hand she held.

Serasie shuffled her fingers restlessly and let out a discreet cough.

“Is he uncomfortable?”

This Kalen, the young boy, rarely revealed his inner thoughts, which often left her feeling frustrated. Especially when it came to issues others might worry about, he would never admit to them, no matter what.

Just recalling how he had insisted he was “fine” even after being battered all over his body on Hiart Mountain brought her a pang of guilt. Seeing him dismiss it so nonchalantly made her heart ache with gratitude and shame.

Why did he have to be so selfless?

Serasie was both embarrassed and…

…happy.

That Kalen had stubbornly insisted he was fine was a story the others didn’t know. The doctor’s newfound respect when treating her was proof enough of what had happened.

She had won the duel. And now, only a single step remained before she reached the moment she had longed for.

And now, she was about to take that step.

Would it soothe the heart that had long since withered?

Yes, it would. Because the heart that had withered had already been saved by a boy.

This was merely keeping the last promise she had made to herself long ago.

“…If that happens…”

Serasie brought her other hand to her chest, clutching it secretly as she cast her eyes downward.

The beautiful ruby reflected the image of a boy taller than her.

She squeezed her hand tighter, as if to preserve his likeness, and whispered softly.

“What will happen to this heart?”

Serasie was no fool.

She understood the emotions that had uninvitedly crept into her heart, even though it had previously deteriorated beyond repair.

Though she tried to push it aside, this presence had grown overwhelming, impossible to ignore.

It was just gratitude. That’s all it was. Nothing more than mistaking appreciation as something else.

No matter how many times she recited this to herself, nothing changed.

If anything, it only grew stronger with each thought.

So she felt uncertain.

Would she be able to handle the overwhelming torrent of feelings that would come when everything was finally settled and there was nothing left to distract her?

Not even now, when she was still able to force herself to ignore it, was it easy.

In this situation with no mask to hide behind, could she truly endure?

“Miss?”

“Ah! Uh, yeah!?”

“Are you still feeling uneasy?”

Her voice cracked in alarm.

Before she could recover from the embarrassment, she felt warmth growing in her right hand.

Turning her head abruptly, she saw Kalen looking at her with a slightly worried expression.

In her effort to sort out the complicated tangle of emotions in her heart, she had unconsciously tightened her grip on their joined hands.

Kalen, unaware of her inner turmoil, naturally thought of the events from that day. Despite knowing it would burden him, she hadn’t let go. Instead, she had clutched his arm so tightly that the blood barely circulated.

Perhaps he believed the memory of that day still lingered in her mind, troubling her.

It was a logical assumption.

However…

For Serasie, who was already struggling with complicated emotions, seeing the concerned look on his face now…

…

Her chest tightened.

This feeling was unmistakable.

It would undoubtedly be something she couldn’t bear.

How vast this torrent of emotions would swell, she couldn’t even begin to gauge, but it would surely be overwhelming.

The mere appearance of concern on Kalen’s face was already enough to trigger everything.

Serasie’s troubled state seemed to Kalen related to the upcoming meeting with the head of the house.

Guessing this, Kalen remained silent until their destination.

It was truly fortunate for Serasie.

*

When she was younger,

Back when the world was still filled with dreams, she thought that her father’s love was everything.

Thinking back, it wasn’t love, but more like…

Interest. It seemed closer to mere curiosity than love.

Probably because she loved her father so much,

Her mother had dyed her red hair to make it black.

But even her efforts couldn’t last forever,

And the day her mother’s red hair was discovered, she was exiled.

How could a man be so heartless, despite the love her mother had shown him by giving birth and nurturing their child?

If cold-hearted people were unpopular in the North, then her father was undoubtedly the worst kind of man.

As for the heart of a mother who loved such a man…

It’s hard to understand.

It was around the time her mother was exiled and her own hair started showing red tints that she noticed.

No matter what she did, more was given to her older brother.

It began with material things like delicious food and pretty clothes.

Then progressed to abstract things like freedom, choices, and happiness.

She had no choice but to endure unwanted teachings, confined to suffocating routines.

She started doubting if this was truly home.

From then on, the head’s office wasn’t a place of her father but a place she received unwelcome orders from the man who called himself “father.”

After that came only the erecting of emotional walls.

Serasie stood quietly in front of the head’s office, letting out a soft sigh.

“Good luck, miss.”

“…Yeah.”

Kalen casually claimed a spot in front of the head’s office and plopped down, his relaxed posture somewhat easing the tension.

Even if that ease was slight, it was enough.

Knock. Knock.

After a while, the sound of knocking on the door of the head’s office echoed.

“Come in.”

A voice, like that of a beast yet tinged with resignation, called from inside.

Serasie smiled at Kalen once before entering the head’s office.

Kalen, his back to the closed door, gazed out the window at the snowy field beyond.

Could the North ever truly be home for Serasie? Or was it something else entirely?

Such thoughts crossed his mind as…

*

“You’ve come.”

Inside the peculiar head’s office, adorned with the heads of monsters, stood a large sword mounted proudly behind the chair, showcasing the owner’s muscular build.

Serasie looked at the sword and began.

“I’ve won, Father.”

“Yes, I heard.”

“About Brother…”

She couldn’t bring herself to expose the secret business of Toren, something she had suspected for days. Days spent in thought all led to the same conclusion—this was something she couldn’t reveal to her father.

She didn’t know if he was aware of Toren’s dealings or not.

Whichever it was, Serasie couldn’t muster the courage to face what might follow.

However, now it was different. She had found something—or someone—she could rely on to overcome everything.

Even if it turned out to be the worst-case scenario she had anticipated, she felt confident she wouldn’t fall apart.

The disappointment in her father would remain, but she was no longer afraid.

“Toren is suspected of trafficking Northern women as slaves, and he has confessed. He will be dealt with according to the law.”

Serasie’s ruby eyes gleamed as she asked,

“Did you know?”

Would her father simply show favoritism for his child?

Or had he turned a blind eye to the abhorrent deeds of his own kin?

Gazing at the ruby eyes that burned toward him, Azcalc the Duke calmly nodded.

“I knew.”

And with that, Serasie, about to lash out, was stopped.

“There’s no need to concern yourself with that anymore.”

It was a face he hadn’t shown since the day he exiled his wife.

“I only wished for you not to get hurt, Serasie.”

*

Perhaps it was unreasonable.

When he was still called “young lord,”

Back in the days when a bright future was assured.

In a fortuitous moment, he spotted a young girl in the outmost village.

Her hair and eyes were red.

The instant he saw her, the expression “falling in love at first sight” made perfect sense.

In the North, where a fiery red symbolized ominous things,

And where ceaseless combat was the North’s curse,

To resemble such colors invited only hatred.

Yet, his heart felt differently.

Unconsciously, he likened her eyes to rubies.

From that day onward, he made efforts to win the girl’s heart under the guise of coincidence.

The girl became his wife, and she dyed her red hair to maintain an alternate identity for six years until her daughter was born. Somehow, her eyes too were altered to match another color.

He felt deeply sorry.

The woman he had loved wasn’t supposed to look this way.

It was ironic that keeping her close meant denying her true form, and for that, he felt guilty.

But still,

At least this was a blessing.

In the North, where traditions were paramount, it was unthinkable for the lord of the Hiart family to live openly with someone possessing red hair and eyes.

-But the hope shattered just a few months later.

He had no choice but to exile his wife.

On the day he couldn’t endure the reality and wailed in sorrow, she smiled tenderly, telling him she had loved him.

*

The daughter resembled her mother.

Serasie’s eyes took after those beloved rubies.

This was a kind of fear.

So, he vowed to himself.

To sever parental affection so that he wouldn’t end up casting his daughter aside too.

Even if it was selfish.

He understood the corruption in Toren’s character, even if he was his son.

He didn’t approve of his actions.

Nevertheless, he pretended to favor Toren over Serasie, especially every time her mother’s face came to mind.

When Serasie announced her intentions to enter the duel, he felt dizzy.

Thus, he eliminated every chance she could win.

And he swallowed the disgust he felt about his own son’s actions.

To ensure Serasie grew strong enough to support the North without earning resentment from the masses who might use her red tinge as an excuse to exile her too.

So that he wouldn’t have to make a decision he couldn’t handle.

So he wouldn’t lose another child after already exiling his wife.

In twisted love, the monster of a duke who had abandoned parental affection—

had made these choices.

And then the audacious Kalen entered the picture.

Through his memories stirred, he permitted her to enter the battle.

Because he was the first to liken her pretty rubies not to blood but to wine.

It reminded him of his younger self.

“Regrets, I have none. Knights of the North do not look back. This too is something I chose and something I intend to bear.”

“…”

“And still, you have conquered all pain and stood before me today.”

“Does it hurt where the villagers hit you?”

“Who are you?”

“Ah, I’m…”

“Huh~ it was just a joke. Is there anyone in the North who doesn’t know Azcalc Hiart?”

“Ah.”

Yes. Brushing off that pain effortlessly back then,

Standing bravely before him and smiling,

“Sore? Of course it hurts. But today, being worried about by someone makes it a little less painful than usual.”

She was like that pretty ruby-colored girl.

*